Panthers beat Royals, winning third straight championship

The Patch Panthers of Stuttgart beat the Ramstein Royals 7-2 in the championship game of the Department of Defense Dependents School’s tournament May 26 on Ramstein.

This marks the third championship in a row for the Panthers, each time facing off against the Royals. The Panthers previously beat the Royals 10-9 in 2010 and 8-7 in 2011 before winning this year’s championship.

“Both teams worked extremely hard to get here, these are two great programs,” said Gary Kellogg, a Panthers coach. “There was great sportsmanship from both teams, both having a good bunch of kids.”

Practice makes perfect and when the Panthers weren’t playing games, they were working on fundamentals.

“We spent a lot of time this year practicing for this tournament,” said Dylan Measells, the winning pitcher. “We practiced twice a day, even on weekends.”

Measells held the Royals to three hits, no earned runs, two unearned and struck out five batters over the five-inning game.

For Kellogg, watching his team win holds more meaning this year, than any other.
“My son is a senior, who just won his third straight championship game, how do you think I feel?” Kellogg said. “There are tears in my eyes and I couldn’t be more proud.”

For Measells, this win was a fitting end to his final year of high school baseball.
“It feels great, having won my third straight championship,” said Measells. “I look forward to playing in college.”

The panthers finished the year 17-0 and the Royals completed the season 18-1.